Improvement in rotary engines



C. H. KURTZ.

ROTARY-ENGINE. l No. 171,573. Patented nec.z8,1e75.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIOE.

CABLES H. KURTZ, OF SOUTH DANSVILLE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT` IN ROTARY ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 71,573. datedDecember 28, 1875; application filed July 31, 1875.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, OARLEs H. KURTZ, of South Dansville, in the countyof Steuben and State of New York, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in Rotary Engines; and

I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the construction and operation 'of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, and to the letters and ligures of reference markedthereon.

Figures l and 2 of the drawings are representations of vertical sectionsof my engine.

This invention relates to rotary steam-engines; and it consists inattaching the piston to elastic followers, which are actuated, duringthe rotation of the cylinder, by means of camgrooves formed in twostationary plates at the ends of the casin g for the cylinder, as willbe hereinafter explained,

In the annexed drawings, A designates the casing of the engine, which isconstructed with two extensions, a. a, diametrically opposite eachother, which support the casing upon a suitable frame, and are bolteddown tirmly thereto. On top ofthe casing A is a at valveseat, b, onwhich is a D-valve, B, made adjustable by means of a lever, E, which isattached to a rod that passes steam-tight through one end of thevalve-chest E. From the valveseat b descend two ports, c c', which areon opposite sides of a cut-olf, d, and similarly located with .respectto an exhaust-passage. e.

The relative distance of the ports c c with 'respect to the port orpassage e and the arched chamber of valve B is such that, when thisvalve B is moved in the position shown in Fig. 1, steam, entering thevalve-chest E through a pipe, f, will follow the direction of the arrowsin full lines, while the exhaust steam will be discharged through portc', beneath the valve D, and escape through the passage c. If the valveB be reversed, the induction and eduction ot' the steam will bereversed, and the cylinder G inside of the casing A willlrotate in anopposite direction- The engine can be reversed while it is in motion bysimply sliding the valve B from one port to the other. Inside of thecasing A an annular chamber, g, is formed, on opposite sides of whichare annular anges g g, of greater diameter than the cylinder Gr arerabbeted to receive expansible packing, hereinafter explained, andthrough this cylinder radial slots are made, which are diametricallyopposite each other, and in line with the slots which are through thediaphragm lt, as shown in Fig. 1. In the said slots a-re applied twopistons, J J, which have lsuitable packing secured in their outer endsto prevent leakage. These valve-slides are attached, by means ot'T-shaped tenons t', to spring-followers L L, which pass freely'th roughthe slots in diaphragm h, and have anti-friction rollers on theirreduced ends. The antii'riction rollers are received in cam-grooves k,made in two circular plates, N N. These plates N are rigidly secured,by. means of yokes N', to the ends of 'the casing A, and they receivefreely through them the shaft F. The reduced portions ofthefollower-springs L'pass through slotted guides P, which are secured tothe ends of the casing A, and which allow the follower-springs tooperate without binding in their grooves k. l

Fig. 3 shows clearly the shape of a camlgroove, 7c, in one of the platesN, the groove la in the opposite plate being of the same shape andradius. The upper portion of each grodve k is depressed for the purposeof retracting the pistons J as they successivelypass beneath the cut-offd, which latter is held down upon the periphery of the cylinder G by aspring, j. and packed so as to prevent leakage.

On each rabbeted or reduced end of cylinder G I apply an expansiblemetallic packing, for the purpose of preventing any leak ot' steambetween it and the inner surfaceof the flange, against which it ispressed. This packing consists of a broad diagonally-split ring, Z,surrounded by two narrow split rings, n n, the joi-nts of which breakjoints with that of the broad ring l. The inner diameter ofthe rings lissoinewhat'greater than the diameter of the reduced ends of the cylinderGr, and` between these reduced ends and the rings l springs S areapplied, which keep the rings expanded, and compensate for any Wearwhich takes place. The packing-rings are held in their places by meansot' rings p, which are `screwed fast to the ends of the cylinder G.

The ends oi' 'the casing A are closed by means of caps R R, packed so asto prevent leakage. i

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The described piston J J, secured to springfollower rods L L, incombination with the cam-grooves k, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed myname inthe presence of two Witnesses.

CABLES H. KURTZ.

Witnesses HENRY WEIERMILLER, PETER KRIDLER.

